In July 2023, the small, rural town of Leongatha in Victoria, Australia was thrust into the spotlight after a family lunch ended in unthinkable tragedy. Erin Patterson, a quiet, separated mother of two, prepared a homemade meal for her in-laws, but within days, three were dead and one was left clinging to life. Was it a heartbreaking accident or something far more sinister? In this episode, we discuss complicated family dynamics, growing suspicion, and lingering questions surrounding a lunch that devastated a family and shocked not just Australia, but the world.

Today's snack: Mushroom tart

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Sources:

• The Mushroom Cook Podcast
• The Mushroom Trial
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFRwU47pKic 60 Minutes Australia
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/world/australia/mushroom-poisoning-trial-verdict.html?searchResultPosition=1
• https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/science/herbarium/death-cap/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77n2yykzrjo
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx554n1x0wo
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx5e9dldqwo
• https://people.com/woman-accused-killing-three-with-poisonous-meal-says-exotic-mushrooms-have-more-flavor-court-11747054
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g8zr16y21o
• https://apnews.com/article/australia-poisonous-mushroom-murder-c0e545567d6bdccc266f342a2ee7b192
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g8zr16y21o
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx554n1x0wo
• https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/black-tarp-installed-around-mushroom-cook-erin-pattersons-home-before-guilty-verdict-reached/news-story/efb14aaa35823669e8690be9bc6cfa72
• https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/erin-patterson-trial-exhibits-and-pictures-shown-to-the-jury-released-by-victorian-supreme-court/news-story/1aaee1b5445fa0f69740beccd207004d
• https://theqldr.com.au/crime-law-and-justice/2025/05/22/patterson-22/
• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14231137/The-deadly-poison-bodies-three-women-killed-horror-Christmas-dinner-police-set-dig-months-dead-husband-woman-prepared-food-poisoned.html
• https://www.kpbs.org/news/international/2025/05/02/an-australian-woman-is-on-trial-for-murder-by-toxic-mushrooms-heres-what-to-know?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14888065/Details-emerge-PARTY-Erin-Patterson-threw-night-arrest-mysterious-break-ins-Leongatha-home-handcuffed.html
• https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/shroom-service_fewer-mushroom-identification-centres-more-poisonings/45228910
• https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/29/health/mushrooms-poisoning-foraging/index.html
• https://7news.com.au/news/inmate-claims-she-fell-ill-after-eating-meal-prepared-by-mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson--c-19283609
• https://thenightly.com.au/australia/victoria/erin-patterson-dr-chris-webster-reveals-why-he-faces-losing-his-job-after-speaking-out-about-mushroom-killer-c-19306978